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California Academy of SciencesvsSan Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
Both are rated very highly by professional reviewers writing for major publications. On balance, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) scores marginally higher than California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) comes in at 96 with positive reviews from 11 reviewers such as Where, Frommer's and Fodor's.
California Academy of Sciences
Fodor's
Concierge
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Condé Nast Traveler
Afar Magazine
Where
Atlas Obscura Atlas Obscura Travel + Leisure Show All Reviews
55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118
From $0/night
Fodor's "The Cal Academy is one of the city's most spectacular treasures." Full review
Concierge "The California Academy of Sciences is as renowned for its collection—over 26 million specimens gathered over the past 150 years—as it is for the building that houses them."
i
Be sure to pick up tickets for the hourly shows at the state-of-the-art Morrison Planetarium, the world's largest all-digital planetarium; sit up high for the best perspective on the 75-foot-diameter dome.
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Architect Renzo Piano's 2008 landmark LEED-certified green building houses 38,000 weird and wonderful animals in a four-story rainforest and split-level aquarium." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The Museum, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, extends green, sustainable architecture in unprecedented ways." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Renowned for its collection—over 26 million specimens gathered over the past 150 years—as it is for the building that houses them." Full review
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Even on a foggy day, when mist twirls in the treetops, the park views from atop the roof are stupendous.
Afar Magazine "The California Academy of Sciences is an unfortunately stuffy name for an institution that is anything but staid." Full review
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) It would be easy to spend an entire day or more seeing all of the Academy's exhibits, so be prepared to pick and choose among them.
Where "The academy is an international center for scientific education and research and the only museum in the world to house an aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum under one (living) roof." Full review
Atlas Obscura "Over 315,000 preserved amphibians and reptiles in jars. " Full review
Atlas Obscura "A century and a half of research in the sciences and natural history, still going strong. " Full review
Travel + Leisure "The California Academy of Sciences covers a broad reach, blending innovative and interactive exhibits that make this a local favorite." Full review
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Concierge Lonely Planet Travel + Leisure Condé Nast Traveler
Not For Tourists
Michelin Guide Afar Magazine Where
Time Out Fodor's Show All Reviews
151 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
From $0/night
Concierge "This architecturally arresting black, gray, and white museum... has five floors of 20th-century art, including works by Matisse, Pollock, Georgia O'Keeffe, Diego Rivera, and Ansel Adams."
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) was destined from its start in 1935 to become an eclectic, unconventional museum." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has been the premier West Coast spot for modern art since 1935, with over 27,000 works from Modernists and contemporary artists." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Currently under construction until 2016... the museum's collection is on display in galleries and museums throughout the Bay Area." Full review
Not For Tourists "Mario Botta-designed modern art museum. Check out the new rooftop sculpture garden."
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"San Francisco's premier showcase for modern art is housed in a delightful building." Full review
Afar Magazine "In addition to the main exhibition, the museum always displays supplementary art and photography exhibitions, which are almost always amazing. " Full review
Where "After a three-year hiatus, SFMOMA has unveiled a Snøhetta-led expansion that makes it the largest modern art space in the nation." Full review
Time Out "More than 30,000 internationally acclaimed paintings, sculptures and performance art pieces from contemporary and modern artists." Full review
Fodor's "One of the largest modern art museums in the country and the revitalized anchor of the Yerba Buena arts district...the museum displays only a portion of its more than 33,000-work collection " Full review
